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Iran unveils three new precision-guided missiles
TEHRAN, Aug 6, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – Iran unveiled three precision-guided
missiles on Tuesday, with the defence minister saying they show the country
is ready to defend itself in the face of US “viciousness and conspiracies”.
The new line-up of air-to-air missiles dubbed the “Yasin”, “Balaban” and a
new series of the “Ghaem” were developed jointly by the ministry and Sa Iran,
also known as Iran Electronics Industries.
Defence Minister Brigadier-General Amir Hatami hailed their launch as
“another significant achievement of power and dignity for the Islamic
Republic of Iran”.
“It shows that despite the viciousness and conspiracies of the Great Satan
America and its mercenaries, the defence ministry will not hesitate for a
moment to defend the Islamic republic and to expand security,” he said,
quoted by Fars news agency.
The Yasin was a smart, guided missile with folding wings that can be fired
from a range of 50 kilometres (30 miles) of its target from manned or
unmanned aircraft, Fars reported.
The Balaban was guided by GPS and sensors, equipped with folding wings and
could be mounted under aircraft, while the Ghaem was a heat-seeking missile
that could hit within 50 centimetres of a target.
They were unveiled amid tensions between Iran and the US and its allies in
the Strait of Hormuz — a vital corridor linking oil producing countries in
the Middle East to markets in Asia, Europe and North America.
The tensions arose after the US withdrew from a 2015 nuclear deal between
Iran and world powers last year and began stepping up a campaign of “maximum
pressure” on the Islamic republic.
Since May this year, ships have been targeted in mysterious attacks,
drones have been downed and oil tankers seized in the strategic waters.
BSS/AFP/FI/ 1535 hrs